Episode 631. Joe Dempseys Mechanical
Chicago actor Joe Dempsey plays William Shakespeare\u2019s most autobiographical character, Peter Quince, in the\xa0Chicago Shakespeare Theater production of A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream. Joe talks about playing this prototypical actor-manager, the rehearsal process for this gloriously funny production,\xa0the importance of listening to director Joe Dowling, the joy of rehearsal invention, the freedom of actor ownership, the balance of hustling for auditions, the delight of working with T.R. Knight (TV's Grey's Anatomy) as Bottom, the incorporation of many Shakespearean deaths, memories of working with the late great John Mahoney (Frasier), and the fundamental difference between being interpretive and creative artists. (Length 18:33)\xa0Peter Quince (Joe Dempsey, with bullhorn) directs Francis Flute (Alec Silver), and helps Nick Bottom (T.R. Knight), assisted by Tom Snout (Jonathan Butler-Duplessis) and watched by Snug the Joiner (William Dick) in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of\xa0A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Joe Dowling, December 6, 2018 - February 3, 2019. Photos by Liz Lauren.